Dark City -- What Makes This Movie Great? (Episode 189)

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Disclaimer: All reasonable comments are welcome, including reasoned disagreements. You will be banned for foolish talk, harassment, and hate speech on sight; it's a tremendous waste of life. I believe in freedom of association and, by extension, freedom of dissociation from you.

[@DonaldAMisc]

When someone says they like The Matrix, I have to ask them: "Have you seen Dark City?!" If you haven't, don't watch this video yet and go watch the Director's Cut! It's so satisfying going in not knowing the twists! ♥️

[@prilljazzatlanta5070]

Thanks for talking about this one. Very special gem

[@LearningaboutMovies]

you're welcome

[@EddieHenderson92]

Dark City is awesome as long as you go with the Director's cut and it's better than The Matrix.

[@benjamindover4337]

I think I may have seen this in its original theatrical release. Have to watch it again now.

[@CcJjGg_]

It's odd but I'm not much a noir fan until you put a touch of futuristic scfi with it then becomes a favorite genre

[@jimmyj1969]

Α great, stylish S.F. movie!

[@elainethomas9737]

Cool...cool movie got the special edition years ago. I put the theme from the final battle on my movie soundtrack playlist on Amazon music.

[@clumsydad7158]

great review, i was thinking how ebert loved this movie too, which you mention ... only saw once, enjoyable, somehow was a bit too visually dark for me, but thanks for reminding me of the ending, which i had no recall of ... kind of reminiscent of a truman show ending, a great wide ocean of possibility ahead. also the theme of alien control reminiscent of oblivion (w/ tom cruise)

[@FTA4evr]

Yes, a great movie! A small favorite moment is when Murdoch escapes the clutches of the May, the prostitute, played by Melissa George, and she exclaims in frustration: "Ah, Shoot!".

[@Dravianpn02]

Please analyze synecdoche New York, Anamolisa and Split Second woth Rutger Hauer! And for a classic, All about Eve? No one mentions that masterwork anymore yet that film started a formula that thousands upon thousands of films have followed since then.

[@dapamico1]

Thanks for the review, I love Dark City! I really like the Matrix, but I feel its success had the unfortunate effect of sending some great films with similar themes to the bottom of the bargain bin. I’d love to hear your thoughts on eXistenZ and The Thirteenth Floor which came out with months of The Matrix.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

you're welcome. I like eXistenZ considerably, but can't remember 13th Floor and I don't think I've seen it then.

[@ageofmich]

I prefer dark city above matrix aswell. Altough i dont rate it as highly as u.

[@BadClamsVideos]

I had been waiting for this one, as I never liked Dark City. I appreciate what it was going for, but found a lot of the narrative, action, and acting unintentionally goofy (or maybe it was intentional?). The aliens motivations were a whole lot more interesting than in the matrix, and make a whole lot more scientific and inquisitive sense, but I really can't get through the movie without being distracted by it's goofiness - to the point it takes any entertainment factor away for me. Hard for me not to imagine how great this movie would be with the cast and production team from the matrix, or how great the matrix could have been with dark city's vision. I still love the matrix though, and dislike dark city. That might say a lot more about me as viewer than anything about the two movies. I gave the original RoboCop 5/5 on letterboxd, and more recently Slotherhouse a 4/5, so there is some level or type of goofiness I enjoy.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thanks. we are all able to only endure so much, and what we prefer. I would say Robocop is considerably goofier than Dark City, but it also signals that it knows it's goofier.

[@astronomer747]

I agree some of the performances are questionable. Keiffer Sutherland in particular has some strange line delivery--almost like he is always out of breath. I found the film mesmerizing in spite of that, though. It's so visually brilliant and creative. The action isn't that great either, but this is one of those films like Blade Runner that is loved more for its immersive worldbuilding, strength of direction, and exploration of philosophical themes. I think it certainly delivers on that front.

[@astronomer747]

And I love Robocop also. It works as a satire of culture and as an action flick.